Optical scanner

ABSTRACT

An optical scanner includes a scanner housing including a scan window, a laser light source, reflected light detector and a mirrored polygon spinner. The spinner is arranged to spin around both a first axis of rotation and a second axis of rotation so as to produce a substantially hemispherical scan volume.

The present invention relates to an optical scanner and morespecifically to an optical scanner having enhanced scan volume.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Problems of enhanced scan volume and increased readability of barcodesheld at different orientations to a scanner are common to all barcodescanners (single and dual aperture scanners). Although these problemshave been best addressed by the use of dual aperture scanners, eventhese scanners produce scan patterns with gaps in item coverage. Thesegaps generally increase as the item is moved away from an ideal positionin the center of the scan volume.

Commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,229,588, 5,684,289, and 5,886,336disclose a typical dual aperture optical scanner. The scanning lightbeams from a laser diode pass through substantially horizontal andvertical apertures to provide more item coverage than a single aperturescanner.

Furthermore, in an effort to increase item coverage, optics designersare increasing the number of scan lines, line length, and scan angles byincreasing the number of lasers and pattern mirrors in the scanner. Theaddition of these components consequently increases cost.

Therefore, it would be desirable to provide an optical scanner which isnot only capable of reading a bar code label on any one of sixorthogonal surfaces of an item oriented at right angles to the scanner,but is also capable of reading the bar code label if it is located onany intermediate surfaces between those orthogonal surfaces.

The complexity of dual aperture scanners will be described in order toillustrate another advantage of the present invention, which is thesimplicity and corresponding ease of construction of the scanner.

As will be illustrated in more detail below, with reference to FIGS. 1to 6, present day scanners comprise, a laser assembly, spinner assembly,collection optics, pattern mirrors, detector assembly, electronics, awindow and scanner housing which contains all the individual assemblies.In operation, the laser beam intercepts the polygon spinner rotatingabout a single axis and is subsequently scanned in a single planetowards a set of pattern mirrors which reflect the individual scan linesout the window and onto a barcode. The laser energy is then reflectedoff of the barcode and a portion is gathered by the collection opticsand focused onto the detector generating a signal to be decoded by theelectronics. The positions at which the scan lines exit the window arestatic, and are contained in a relatively small portion of thehemispherical volume available outside and adjacent to the window (FIG.6). Consequently, the readability of barcodes is limited to certainorientations within that small scan volume

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It would be desirable to provide an optical scanner with a reduction incoverage gaps and an improvement in omni-directional item coverage. Itwould also be desirable to provide a scan engine which can be utilizedin an optically simpler barcode scanner (regardless of the number ofscanner apertures) for improved manufacturability and reduced cost.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention there isprovided an optical scanner comprising a scanner housing including ascan window, a laser light source, a reflected light detector and amirrored polygon spinner which is arranged to spin around both a firstaxis of rotation and a second axis of rotation.

Preferably, the first and second axes of rotation are substantiallyorthogonal and the first axis of rotation is pointed to the scan window.In one embodiment it may be substantially parallel to the scan window.

Most preferably the polygon spinner is externally mirrored.

In one embodiment the scanner further comprises pattern mirrors arrangedto direct light from the polygon spinner through the scan window so asto produce scan lines.

Preferably, the spinner is mounted on a rotating gimbal which is in turnrotated by a motor.

Alternatively, the spinner is rotated through the application ofmagnetic force, compressed air, by the motor via a slip ring or thespinner is mounted on a shaft which is rotated by friction gears orother suitable means on a stationary cylinder surrounding the motor andspinner.

Preferably the scanner further comprises an arrangement of patternmirrors, or basket of mirrors, arranged to direct light from the polygonspinner through the scan window so as to produce scan lines.

Most preferably, the externally mirrored polygon spinner is arranged tospin in said first axis of rotation and is located substantially withinsaid pattern mirrors, which are arranged to spin in said second axis orrotation.

Preferably, the optical scanner further comprises control circuitry inthe scanner housing for obtaining bar code information from electricalsignals from the reflected light detector.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention there isprovided an optical scanner comprising a scanner housing including ascan window, a laser light source, reflected light detector and amirrored polygon spinner arranged to spin around both a first axis ofrotation and a second axis of rotation, the scanner further comprisingan arrangement of pattern mirrors arranged to direct light from thepolygon spinner through the scan window so as to produce scan lines,wherein the externally mirrored polygon spinner is arranged to spin insaid first axis of rotation and is located substantially within saidarrangement of pattern mirrors.

In one embodiment the arrangement of pattern mirrors comprise a pair ofmirrors which are arranged to spin in said second axis of rotation. Inanother embodiment the arrangement of pattern mirrors comprise aninternally mirrored polygon or basket of mirrors.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided amirrored polygon spinner assembly, for use with an optical scanner, theassembly comprising a spinner and a means of rotating the spinner, thespinner being arranged to spin around both a first axis of rotation anda second axis of rotation.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provideda method of scanning a bar code utilizing an optical scanner comprisinga scanner housing including a scan window, a laser light source,reflected light detector and a mirrored polygon spinner arranged to spinaround both a first axis of rotation and a second axis of rotation, soas to produce a scan volume outside of the scan window, the methodcomprising positioning the bar code within the scan volume at anyorientation to the scan window.

Preferably the scan volume produced is substantially hemispherical.Alternatively the scan volume produced is substantially cone shaped.

In accordance with a fifth aspect of the present invention, there isprovided an optical barcode scanner comprised of a scanner housingassembly, window assembly, laser light source, collection optics,detector assembly, decoding electronics, and a dual axis scan engine.The scan engine is comprised of a mirrored polygon spinner arranged tospin around both the spinner axis of rotation and the gimbal axis ofrotation. The spinner and gimbal axes of rotation are preferablyorthogonal with the gimbal axis pointed towards the collection opticsand exit window. The polygon spinner is mounted in a gimbal assemblywhich may include a yoke, motor(s), bearings, axle, and spinner. Thegimbal assembly is rotated about the gimbal axis, preferably by a motor.The polygon spinner is also rotated about its spinner axis by contactmethods such as one or more electric motors or friction/gears, or bynon-contact methods such as electromagnetic fields permanent magneticfields or gas/air pressure.

In the preferred embodiment of the dual axis scan engine, the polygonspinner reflects the laser light directly out the scanner windowaperture. In this embodiment, pattern mirrors are not required.

In an alternative embodiment of the dual axis scan engine, the spinnerreflects a portion of the laser light directly out of the scanner windowaperture, and the remaining portion of the laser light is reflected offof pattern mirrors prior to being directed out the scanner windowaperture. The pattern mirrors may be stationary, or they may be mountedsuch that they rotate about the second axis.

Scan engines in accordance with the present invention can not only beutilized in new optical bar code scanners, they can be retrofitted toexisting scanners, as described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6, in placeof prior art scan engines. In addition scan engines in accordance withthe present invention can be made small enough and in such a way thatthey can be a common module scan engine for any, or at least most, barcode scanners.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An embodiment of a prior art dual aperture scanner will now bedescribed, by way of example, with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a dual aperture optical scanner;

FIG. 2 is an exterior perspective view of the scanner of FIG. 1,including a reference coordinate system for the group of pattern mirrorswithin the scanner;

FIG. 3 is an interior perspective view of the scanner of FIG. 1, showinghorizontal and vertical scanner portions;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the scanner of FIG. 1, along lines 4—4 ofFIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a top view of a horizontal mirror basket within a horizontaloptics assembly; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of the scan volume from thehorizontal window of the scanner of FIG. 1, utilizing a prior art scanengine.

However, it should be noted that the arrangement of pattern mirrorsdescribed with reference to the aforementioned drawings can be utilizedin a scanner in accordance with the present invention as long as thescanner also utilizes a spinner in accordance with one aspect of thepresent invention. Thereafter embodiments of the present invention willbe described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 7 is schematic of a spinner for use in an optical scanner inaccordance with the present invention, arranged to spin around twodifferent axis of rotation;

FIG. 8 is a schematic representation of a first embodiment of thepresent invention illustrating one way in which the spinner of FIG. 7can be powered to spin about said two different axis of rotation;

FIG. 9 is a schematic representation of a second embodiment of thepresent invention illustrating another way in which the spinner of FIG.7 can be powered to spin about said two different axis of rotation;

FIG. 10 is a schematic representation of a spinner in accordance withanother embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a schematic representation of a preferred embodiment of ascanner in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a schematic representation of the substantially hemisphericalscan volume produced by an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 13 is a representation of the scan pattern produced by a scanengine in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to FIG. 1, prior art dual aperture optical scanner 10includes horizontal optics assembly 12H and vertical optics assembly12V, and control circuitry 36 for controlling horizontal and verticaloptics assemblies 12H and 12V. If one of optics assemblies 12H and 12Vfails, scanner 10 retains partial operation.

Horizontal optics assembly 12H projects a scan pattern throughsubstantially horizontal aperture 34H to scan bar codes 42 located onbottom, leading, trailing and checker side surfaces of item 40. It willalso scan bar codes 42 on intermediate surfaces including those betweenthe bottom and customer side surfaces.

Horizontal optics assembly 12H includes laser 16H, aiming mirror 18H,polygon mirrored spinner 20H, pattern mirrors 22H, routing mirror 26H,collection optic 24H, detector assembly 28H, detection circuitry 30H,and motor 32H.

Laser 16H includes one or more laser diodes or other suitable lasersources. Laser 16H may include a laser having a wavelength of 650 nm.

Aiming mirror 18H aims a laser beam from laser 16H to polygon mirroredspinner 20H. The laser beam passes through a hole 25H in collectionoptic 24H (FIG. 4).

Polygon mirrored spinner 20H directs the laser beam to pattern mirrors22H. Polygon mirrored spinner 20H also routes collected light tocollection optic 24H. Polygon mirrored spinner 20H preferably includesfour facets, but may include other numbers of facets. Facets are groupedinto two pairs. Two opposite facets have angles of 74 degrees and 76degrees from the spinner base. The other pair of opposite facets haveangles of 86.5 degrees and 88.5 degrees. Motor 32H rotates polygonmirrored spinner 20H.

Pattern mirrors 22H produce scanning light beams that emanate fromsubstantially horizontal aperture 34H to form a horizontal scan patternfor reading bar code 42 on item 40. Pattern mirrors 22H also collectlight reflected from item 40 and direct it to polygon mirrored spinner20H.

Collection optic 24H routes collected light from polygon mirroredspinner 20H to routing mirror 26H.

Routing mirror 26H routes the collected light to detector assembly 28H.

Detector assembly 28H focuses, optically filters, and converts collectedlight into electrical signals.

Detection circuitry 30H obtains bar code information from the electricalsignals. Detection circuitry 30H includes circuitry for digitizing barcode information.

Vertical optics assembly 12V projects a scan pattern from substantiallyvertical aperture 34V and primarily scans bar codes located on acustomer side and top side of an item. Like horizontal optics assembly12H, vertical optics assembly 12V scans the leading and trailing sides,as well as intermediate surfaces including those between the bottom andcustomer side surfaces. However, for simplicity the substantiallysimilar vertical assembly will not be described in detail herein.

Control circuitry 36 processes the electrical signals from detectorassemblies 28H and assembly 28V to obtain bar code information. Controlcircuitry 36 passes the bar code information to POS terminal 14.

Control circuitry 36 controls operation of lasers 16H and 16V and motors32H and 32V. Control circuitry 36 may remove power from lasers 16H and16V and motors 32H and 32V to increase their longevity.

POS terminal 14 receives transaction data, for example, in the form ofSKU numbers from scanner 10 and completes a transaction by finding pricedata for the SKU numbers in a price-lookup data file.

Turning now to FIG. 2, scanner 10 is shown in perspective.

Scanner 10 as illustrated includes an integral scale 60. Scale 60includes weigh plate 62, which includes substantially horizontal surface50 and substantially horizontal aperture 34H. Horizontal window 64H islocated within horizontal aperture 34H.

Substantially vertical aperture 34V is located within substantiallyvertical surface 54. Substantially vertical window 64V is located withinsubstantially vertical aperture 34V.

Scanner 10 includes housing 52. Preferably, housing 52 may be easilyadapted to fit in a typical checkout counter 56. It is envisioned thatsubstantially horizontal surface 50 be made substantially flush with topsurface 58 of counter 56. Scanner 10 is installed within checkoutcounter 56 so that substantially vertical aperture 34V faces a storeemployee or other operator.

An illustrated reference X-Y-Z coordinate system determines orientationsof pattern mirrors 22H and 22V within scanner 10 of the presentinvention. Origin O is defined such that:

X=0 is on the centerline of the scanner;

Z=0 is on the centerline of the scanner; and

Y=0 is on the substantially horizontal surface 50.

Referring now to FIGS. 3–4, horizontal optics assembly 12H and verticaloptics assembly 12V are shown in their positions within housing 52.

Horizontal optics assembly 12H and vertical optics assembly 12V eachhave nearly all of the optical components of a functional bar codescanner. Horizontal optics assembly 12H and vertical optics assembly 12Veach have their own housings 66H and 66V and printed circuit boards 68Hand 68V. In the illustrated example, control circuitry 36 is located inhorizontal optics assembly 12H and signals vertical optics assembly 12Vare brought to control circuitry 36 via cables 69.

Horizontal optics assembly 12H includes horizontal aperture 35H andwindow 65H. Scale weigh plate 62 with horizontal aperture 34H and window64H are located above window 65H.

Horizontal optics assembly 12H will scan all label orientations on thebottom and checker sides of item 40, as well as certain orientations onthe leading and trailing sides.

Optical pathing between laser 16H and polygon mirrored spinner 20Havoids contacting pattern mirrors 22H along the way. Laser 16H islocated on a checker side of horizontal optics assembly 12H and polygonmirrored spinner 20H is located on the opposite side. Collection optic24H is located adjacent laser 16H. The laser beam from laser 16H passesthrough hole 25H in collection optic 24H. Detector assembly 28H islocated between collection optic 24H and polygon mirrored spinner 20H.

Spinners 20H and 20V are located where they are in order to generatesuitable scan lines. In optics assembly 12H, the generation of the frontvertical lines requires arcs of light reflected from a spinner 20H onthe back side of the optical cavity.

Substantially vertical aperture 34V is oriented at an acute angle T ofabout 86 degrees from substantially horizontal aperture 34H. Otherangular configurations, acute and obtuse, are also anticipated by thepresent invention.

Operationally, lasers 16H and 16V emit laser beams onto aiming mirrors18H and 18V, which reflect the laser beams through holes 25H and 25V incollection optics 24H and 24V and then onto mirrored polygon spinners20H and 20V. The polygon facets further reflect the laser beams up ordown (for horizontal assembly 12H) or forward or rearward (for verticalassembly 12V), depending upon the facet struck. As the facets rotate,the laser beams are scanned in a shallow arc and reflected onto patternmirrors 22H and 22V. In some cases, primary pattern mirrors reflect thelaser beams through apertures 34H and 34V onto surfaces of item 40. Inother cases, the primary pattern mirrors reflect the laser beams ontosecondary mirrors that reflect the laser beams through apertures 34H and34V onto surfaces of item 40.

As item 40 is moved through the scan zone (above horizontal aperture 34Hand in front of vertical aperture 34V), scan lines generated by thelaser beams from horizontal and vertical apertures 34H and 34V strikebar code label 42, no matter where it is located on item 42. A scan linewill pass through all or part of bar code label 40.

Item 42 scatters light back along the path of the incident laser light.The scattered light passes through horizontal and vertical apertures 34Hand 34V, onto the secondary mirrors (if present), onto the primarymirrors and onto the polygon facets. The rotating facets reflect thescattered light onto collection optics 24H and 24V. Collection optics24H and 24V focus the scattered light onto detector assemblies 28H and28V by way of routing mirrors 26H and 26V. Detector assemblies 28H and28V convert the scattered light into electrical signals for analogprocessing by pre-video circuitries 30H and 30V and digital processingby control circuitry 36.

Referring now to FIG. 5, pattern mirrors 22H are shown in detail.Horizontal pattern mirrors 22H include primary pattern mirrors andsecondary pattern mirrors. The primary pattern mirrors receive a laserbeam directly from spinner 20H. The secondary mirrors receive the laserbeam from some of the primary pattern mirrors.

The term “front” as applied to mirrors means operator or checker side.The term “rear” as applied to mirrors means the side opposite to theoperator or checker side. As illustrated, horizontal pattern mirrors 22Hexhibit substantially bilateral symmetry between the leading andtrailing sides of horizontal optics assembly 12H.

The primary pattern mirrors include left rear diagonal mirror 86, rightrear diagonal mirror 88, left front vertical mirror 78, right frontvertical mirror 80, left horizontal mirror 82, right horizontal mirror84, left front picket mirror 70, right front picket mirror 72, leftfront diagonal mirror 102, right front diagonal mirror 104, left frontbottom picket mirror 74, and right front bottom picket 76.

The secondary pattern mirrors include left rear diagonal mirror 94,right rear diagonal mirror 96, left front vertical mirror 90, rightfront vertical mirror 92, left horizontal mirror 98, and righthorizontal mirror 100.

With reference to FIGS. 7 to 13, scanners 200 in accordance with thepresent invention utilize a two axis scan engine having a dynamic secondscan axis 202, which increases the scan volume of the scanner 200 (FIG.12).

In one embodiment this second axis 202 rotates substantiallyorthogonally to the spin axis 204 (FIG. 7) of the spinner 200 toessentially rotate the scan volume about this axis (FIGS. 7 to 10 and12).

Two approaches are shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 to describe two differentpossible methods for rotating the spinner axis 204 while it is on arevolving axis 202.

In the embodiment of FIG. 8 a motor 206 rotates the gimbal 208 and thespinner 226 is mounted on the gimbal via a spinner shaft 212. Thespinner shaft 212 is arranged to contact (either directly or indirectly)a surface of a stationary cylinder 214. Through friction between thecylinder 214 and the spinner shaft 212, or through an arrangement ofgears or the like, the rotation of the gimbal 208 causes the rotation ofthe shaft 212 and consequently the rotation of the spinner 226. Due tothe difference in the circumferences of the spinner shaft 212 and thecylinder 214 the spinner 226 is geared to rotate many timed faster thanthe gimbal 208.

In the embodiment of FIG. 9 a first motor 206 rotates the gimbal 208, asin FIG. 8; however a second motor 207 is arranged to rotate the spinnershaft 212 and thus the spinner 226. The first motor (˜1,000 RPM) is alow speed high torque motor. The second motor 207 is a high speed(˜20,000 RPM) low torque motor.

In more detail the optical scanner 200 comprises a scanner housing 218including a scan window 220. The scanner 200 also contains a laser lightsource 222 and a detector 224 for detecting light reflected from a barcode. The scanner 200 further and most importantly includes a spinner226 arranged to spin around both a first axis of rotation 204 and asecond axis of rotation 202. In one embodiment the axes of rotation 202,204 are substantially orthogonal and the first axis of rotation 204 issubstantially parallel to the plane containing the scan window 220.

The polygon spinner 226 is externally mirrored as With standard spinnersfor bar code scanners. In addition the scanner housing 218 can containpattern mirrors, as described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6,arranged to direct light from the polygon spinner 226 through the scanwindow 220 so as to produce scan lines.

As described above, with reference to FIG. 7, in one embodiment thespinner 226 is mounted on a rotating gimbal 208, which is in turnrotated, on the gimbal axis 202, by a motor 206. The spinner 226 may berotated, on the spinner axis 204, by a number of different means, aswould be apparent to a person skilled in the art, including, but notlimited to, the application of magnetic force or compressed air.

FIG. 10 illustrates an embodiment of a scanner in accordance with thepresent invention in which pattern mirrors 228 arranged to directoverspill light from the polygon spinner 226 (which would not otherwisecome directly off of the spinner and out of the scan window) through thescan window 220, so as to produce scan lines. In a first embodiment thepattern mirrors 228 are a pair of mirrors which spin with the gimbal andthus, in effect, rotate the overspill or excess of each scan line. In asecond embodiment the pattern mirror 228 are arranged as an internallymirrored polygon substantially surrounding the spinner 226. The polygon228 is fixed and performs the same function of directing light out ofthe scan window without spinning with the gimbal 208.

The scanner produces a substantially hemispherical scan volume asillustrated in FIGS. 10 and 12.

As can be seen in FIG. 10 the externally mirrored polygon spinner 226 isarranged to spin in said first axis of rotation (pointing out of thepage) and is located substantially within the pattern mirrors 228, whichare arranged to spin in said second axis or rotation 202 in the plane ofthe page.

FIG. 11 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the scanner in accordancewith the present invention, in which the optical barcode scanner 240 iscomprised of a scanner housing assembly 242, window assembly 244 and adual axis scan engine 246. The scanner also includes a laser lightsource (not shown), collection optics (not shown), detector assembly(not shown) and decoding electronics (not shown). However, a personskilled in the art would b aware of the best location within the scannerhousing assembly 242 for these components. The scan engine is comprisedof a mirrored polygon spinner arranged to spin around both the spinneraxis of rotation 204 and the gimbal axis of rotation 202, as describedabove.

The polygon spinner 226 is mounted in a gimbal assembly which inaccordance with one embodiment may include a yoke, motor(s), bearings,axle, and spinner. The gimbal assembly is rotated by a motor about thegimbal axis. The polygon spinner is also rotated about its spinner axisby contact or non-contact means as described above.

In this the preferred embodiment of the dual axis scan engine, it can beseen that the polygon spinner reflects the laser light directly out thescanner window aperture 245. Therefore in this embodiment, patternmirrors are not required.

In alternative embodiments of the dual axis scan engine, the spinnerreflects a portion of the laser light directly out of the scanner windowaperture 245, and the remaining portion of the laser light is reflectedoff of pattern mirrors prior to being directed out the scanner windowaperture. The pattern mirrors may be stationary, or they may be mountedsuch that they rotate about the second axis 202, as described above withreference to FIG. 10.

Finally, the optical scanner 200 further comprises control circuitry 36in the scanner housing 218 for obtaining bar code information fromelectrical signals from the reflected light detector 224, as with thescanners as described in FIGS. 1 to 6.

Scanners in accordance with embodiments of the present invention have anumber of advantages. In particular the scan volume is many times thatof a conventional single axis scanner (compare FIGS. 6 & 12), and thereadable barcode orientations are increased as well. Also the scanpattern produced by the scanner is considerably more dense than that ofprior art scanners, with a greatly increased number of scan lines, whichare also more closely packed than with previous scanners, as can be seenin FIG. 13. Also, this approach does not necessarily need patternmirrors (see FIG. 10), which can reduce scanner complexity andproduction costs significantly. Productivity of the scanner will besignificantly increased.

The foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of the inventionhas been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. Itis not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to theprecise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possiblein light of the above teaching within the spirit and scope of theinvention as claimed.

1. An optical scanner comprising a scanner housing including a scanwindow, a laser light source, reflected light detector and a mirroredpolygon spinner arranged to spin through multiple full rotations aroundboth a first axis of rotation and a second axis of rotationsimultaneously, the spinner having a plurality of facets, at least twoof the facets being differently angled from one another with respect toan axis of rotation passing longitudinally through the spinner.
 2. Theoptical scanner of claim 1, wherein the first and second axis ofrotation are substantially orthogonal.
 3. The optical scanner of claim1, wherein the first axis of rotation is directed substantially towardsthe scan window.
 4. The optical scanner of claim 1, wherein the polygonspinner is externally mirrored.
 5. The optical scanner of claim 1,further comprising pattern mirrors arranged to direct light from thepolygon spinner through the scan window so as to produce scan lines. 6.The optical scanner of claim 1, wherein the spinner is mounted on arotating gimbal which is in turn rotated by a motor.
 7. The opticalscanner of claim 6, wherein the spinner is rotated by a motor throughslip rings or a commutator.
 8. The optical scanner of claim 6, whereinthe spinner is mounted on a shaft which is rotated by friction or gearson a stationary cylinder surrounding the motor and spinner.
 9. Theoptical scanner of claim 1, wherein the spinner is rotated through theapplication of magnetic force.
 10. The optical scanner of claim 1,wherein the spinner is rotated through the application of compressedair.
 11. The optical scanner of claim 1, further comprising controlcircuitry in the scanner housing for obtaining bar code information fromelectrical signals from the reflected light detector.
 12. An opticalscanner comprising a scanner housing including a scan window, a laserlight source, reflected light detector and a mirrored polygon spinnerarranged to spin through multiple full rotations around both a firstaxis of rotation and a second axis of rotation simultaneously, thespinner having a plurality of facets, at least two of the facets beingdifferently angled from one another with respect to an axis of rotationpassing longitudinally through the spinner, the scanner furthercomprising an arrangement of pattern mirrors arranged to direct lightfrom the polygon spinner through the scan window so as to produce scanlines, wherein the externally mirrored polygon spinner is locatedsubstantially within said arrangement of pattern mirrors.
 13. Theoptical scanner of claim 12, wherein the arrangement of pattern mirrorscomprises an internally mirrored polygon or basket of mirrors.
 14. Theoptical scanner of claim 12, wherein the spinner is mounted on arotating gimbal which is in turn rotated by a motor.
 15. The opticalscanner of claim 14, wherein the spinner is rotated by the motor via aslip ring.
 16. The optical scanner of claim 14, wherein the spinner ismounted on a shaft which is rotated by friction on a stationary cylindersurrounding the motor and spinner.
 17. The optical scanner of claim 12,wherein the spinner is rotated through the application of magneticforce.
 18. The optical scanner of claim 12, wherein the spinner isrotated through the application of compressed air.
 19. A mirroredpolygon spinner assembly, for use with an optical scanner, the assemblycomprising a spinner and a means of rotating the spinner, the spinnerbeing arranged to spin through multiple full rotations around both afirst axis of rotation and a second axis of rotation simultaneously, thespinner having a plurality of facets, at least two of the facets beingdifferently angled from one another with respect to an axis of rotationpassing longitudinally through the spinner.
 20. The spinner of claim 19,wherein the first and second axis of rotation are substantiallyorthogonal.
 21. The spinner of claim 19, wherein the spinner isexternally mirrored.
 22. The spinner of claim 19, wherein the spinner ismounted on a rotating gimbal which is in turn rotated by the means forrotating the spinner.
 23. The spinner of claim 22, wherein the means forrotating the spinner is a motor.
 24. The spinner of claim 23, whereinthe spinner is rotated by the motor via a slip ring.
 25. The spinner ofclaim 22, wherein the spinner is mounted on a shaft which is rotated byfriction on a stationary cylinder surrounding the motor and spinner. 26.The spinner of claim 19, wherein the spinner is rotated through theapplication of magnetic force.
 27. The spinner of claim 19, wherein thespinner is rotated through the application of compressed air.
 28. Thespinner of claim 19, further comprising an internally mirrored polygonspinner arranged to direct light from the polygon spinner through thescan window so as to produce scan lines.
 29. The spinner of claim 28,wherein the externally mirrored polygon spinner is arranged to spin insaid first axis of rotation and is located substantially within saidarrangement of pattern mirrors which is arranged to spin in said secondaxis or rotation.
 30. A method of scanning a bar code utilizing anoptical scanner comprising a scanner housing including a scan window, alaser light source, reflected light detector and a mirrored polygonspinner arranged to spin through multiple full rotations around both afirst axis of rotation and a second axis of rotation simultaneously, thespinner having a plurality of facets, at least two of the facets beingdifferently angled from one another with respect to an axis of rotationpassing longitudinally through the spinner, so as to produce a scanvolume outside of the scan window, the method comprising positioning thebar code within the scan volume at any orientation to the scan window.31. The method of scanning of claim 30, wherein the scan volume producedis cone shaped.
 32. The method of scanning of claim 30, wherein the scanvolume produced is substantially hemispherical.
 33. An optical barcodescanner comprised of a scanner housing assembly, window assembly, laserlight source, collection optics, detector assembly, decodingelectronics, and a dual axis scan engine, the dual axis scan enginecomprising a mirrored polygonal spinner arranged to spin simultaneouslythrough multiple full rotations around both a first axis of rotation anda second axis of rotation, the spinner having a plurality of facets, atleast two of the facets being differently angled from one another withrespect to an axis of rotation passing longitudinally through thespinner.
 34. The scanner of claim 33, wherein the spinner reflects aportion of the laser light directly out of the scanner window aperture,and the remaining portion of the laser light is reflected off of patternmirrors prior to being directed out the scanner window aperture.
 35. Thescanner of claim 33, wherein the pattern mirrors are stationary.
 36. Thescanner of claim 33, wherein the pattern mirrors are mounted such thatthe pattern mirrors rotate about the second axis.
 37. A scan enginecomprised of a mirrored polygon spinner arranged to spin throughmultiple full rotations around both a spinner axis of rotation and agimbal axis of rotation simultaneously, the spinner having a pluralityof facets, at least two of the facets being differently angled from oneanother with respect to an axis of rotation passing longitudinallythrough the spinner.
 38. The scan engine of claim 37, wherein thespinner and gimbal axes of rotation are substantially orthogonal, withthe gimbal axis pointed towards the collection optics and exit window,when in use.
 39. The scan engine of claim 37, wherein the polygonspinner is mounted in a gimbal assembly which may include a yoke, one ormore motors, bearings, axle, and spinner.
 40. The scan engine of claim39, wherein the gimbal assembly is rotated by a motor about the gimbalaxis.
 41. The scan engine of claim 39, wherein the polygon spinner isrotated about the spinner axis by a contact or non-contact rotationalmeans.
 42. The scan engine of claim 41, wherein the contact ornon-contact means are chosen from an electric motor, friction, gears,electra-magnetic fields, permanent magnetic fields or gas or airpressure.